Speaker support system

ABSTRACT

A support system for a speaker cabinet which is connected to a tape deck, phonograph, tuner, amplifier or the like. The speaker cabinet is supported between two vertically spaced support members, and the connection between the cabinet and such members includes a resilient mounting whereby the cabinet vibrations will be dampened.

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Knowles............ 6/1965 Cornerer................267/153X 1 Claim, 5 Drawing PATENTEDJULZMSB 'i- II INVENTOR. RICHARD W. BOCK ATTORNEY 42 38 FlG 5 1 SPEAKER SUPPORT SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Speaker cabinets are normally placed on a floor, shelves or other relative fixed support. In such cases, certain vibrations, such as bass tones are undesirably transferred to the supporting structure as well as to any component which may be placed on the cabinet, such as a turntable, amplifier or the like. Such vibration transfer materially reduces the quality of the emitted sound and may materially interfere with the operation of a turntable. It has been determined that if the speaker cabinet is effectively suspended in rrridair, a crisper, cleaner and higher quality sound will result. In most instances it is not practicable to suspend such a cabinet on flexible cables, and it is accordingly desirable to provide a support system for a speaker cabinet which may be placed on the floor or the like but which will produce high quality sound free from the vibrations normally transferred to the supporting members, such as the building walls or floor. Additionally, in accordance with the teachings of this invention, the sound is caused to issue only from an enclosed speaker cabinet instead of from an entire speaker structure as in most conventional systems, again resulting in an improvement in sound quality.

' THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In accordance with the present invention, and as best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 of the drawing, there is disclosed a speaker cabinet operationally supported on plurality of vertical posts or rods 20 which extend between and are secured to the confronting faces 22 and 24 of the respective members. It will be noted that the posts 20 are positioned adjacent the periphery of members 16 and 18 and only along the sides of cabinet 10 so that the end 14 of the latter is unobstructed.

Cabinet 10 is supported between members 16 and 18 in spaced relation to the surfaces 22 and 24 and preferably in a suspended manner with a minimum amount of connection therebetween, while still providing a stable system. Accordingly, connector elements 26 are used, one such element interconnecting the lower portion 28 of the cabinet to surface 22, and the other element interconnecting the upper portion 30 of the cabinet to surface 24. While fixed dowels or similar connectors could be used for the elements 26 with some improvement in sound quality, it is preferred that a resilient connector be utilized to further minimize vibration transfer from the cabinet 10 to the members 16 and 18. In the case of member 16, such vibrations would in turn be transmitted to the floor or walls, and in the case of member 18, to any component of the system placed on'the upper surface thereof. Obviously, the converse is also true, i.e., external vibrations should not be imparted to the cabinet 10. Such resiliency is provided for by elements 26 as best shown in FIG. 5 of the drawing. Since both the upper and lower connectors are the same, only one is indicated in FIG. 5. Element 26 includes a core or block 32 of relatively hard rubber or similar material having an axial bore 34 extending therethrough. The opposed upper and lower ends 36 and 38 of the core are flat and adapted to respectively engage a support member, such as disc 18 and the adjacent portion of the cabinet, such as upper portion 30. The core tapers inwardly from a median horizontal plane, both upwardly and downwardly with the distal end portions of the core being seated in corresponding diverging recesses 40 in the members and cabinet. Felt pads 42 are positioned between the core and recesses to give an additional damping effect.

Within bore 34 is a compression spring 44 which bears against the support member and cabinet to resiliently urge the same apart, but since such a spring the system 12 of this invention. For purpose of illustration, cabinet 10 is of cylindrical configuration and is adapted to be supported with its axis horizontally disposed so that its circular output end surface 14 is vertically positioned. The components disposed within such a cabinet are well known in the art and since they do not comprise any part of the instant invention, no detailed showing or explanation is warranted. It might be stated, however, that sucha cabinet, or at least the components thereof, are conventionally disposed within a larger enclosed structure, whereas in the present arrangement, cabinet 10 is generally exposed to the atmosphere and supported in such a manner as to minimize transfer of vibrations.

The supporting system includes a base member 16 of disc-like configuration, which is horizontally disposed and adapted to be placed on a floor, shelf or other structural support. A similar disc-like upper member to member 16 andis maintained in such a position by a 26 the same as that previously discussed.

is at the top and bottom of the cabinet, the net eflect is a suspension of the cabinet and an effective bar to vibration transmission.

FIGS. 3 and 4 have been presented to indicate a system when the speaker cabinet 50 is of octagonal shape. Here, the supporting members 52 and 54 may be of like configuration, but with the connector elements I claim 1. A support system for a speaker cabinet comprising a base support member, a vertically spaced upper member, means connecting said members together in vertically spaced relationship including vertical rods interconnecting said members adjacent the periphery thereof, said base member having an upwardly directed element, said upper member having a downwardly directed element, a speaker cabinet positioned intermediate said members, each of said elements having a hollow core countersunk in the adjacent support member and cabinet, a compression spring in said hollow core selectively engageable with such member and adjacent cabinet portion for resiliently supporting said cabinet between said member, and a layer of resilient material on opposite sides of said core and intermediate the ends of said spring and opposed surfaces of the members and cabinet. 5 

1. A support system for a speaker cabinet comprising a base support member, a vertically spaced upper member, means connecting said members together in vertically spaced relationship including vertical rods interconnecting said members adjacent the periphery thereof, said base member having an upwardly directed element, said upper member having a downwardly directed element, a speaker cabinet positioned intermediate said members, each of said elements having a hollow core countersunk in the adjacent support member and cabinet, a compression spring in said hollow core selectively engageable with such member and adjacent cabinet portion for resiliently supporting said cabinet between said member, and a layer of resilient material on opposite sides of said core and intermediate the ends of said spring and opposed surfaces of the members and cabinet. 